Willie Mullins and Paul Townend bond with Scaramanga in bid to conquer Nashville

Paul Townend will look for success in Tennessee and Kerry this weekend — © SPORTSFILE

Michael Verney

Nashville is known as the country music capital of the world but they will have some equine stars on their hands tonight with Willie Mullins targeting success in the Grade One Iroquois Hurdle Stakes (9.40).

Mullins and Paul Townend have taken all before them this season and the pair will try to continue that form in the US tonight when Coral Cup fourth Scaramanga tackles the showpiece event in Percy Warner Park.

Scaramanga will take all the beating with the eight-year-old the likely favourite to walk away with the €115,000 winner’s cheque but Townend won’t have much time to celebrate whatever happens.

The Cork rider is booked to ride in Killarney tomorrow where he will have some tasty rides for the all-conquering Mullins, including top-weight Ramillies in the Tote Killarney National Handicap Chase (4.55).

It’s a typically competitive renewal of the €50,000 feature, however, and the unexposed O’Toole may be the one to side with given the likely improvement in the seven-year-old.

Stuart Crawford’s charge has just two chase starts to his name and he defied his inexperience over the larger obstacles with a fine effort when second in a Grade Two Novice Chase at Wetherby last time out.

His jumping was far from perfect but he could be flung in off a mark of just 133 and he is expected to oblige under Daryl Jacob.

The double green of owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede will also be carried by the Mullins-trained Night And Day in the Easyclean Tourist Attraction Mares Hurdle (2.55).

Townend’s mount has a live chance but this may be an ideal opportunity for the teak tough Anna Bunina – second in a Grade One at Punchestown last month – to get her head in front.

John McConnell’s charge is two from two at the Kerry track – including this contest 12 months ago – and she can score for Simon Torrens.

Irish eyes will also be drawn to France tomorrow where Aidan O’Brien sends over Hans Andersen for the Group One French 2,000 Guineas (2.50) at Longchamp.

Ryan Moore is in the plate while the same pair combine with recent Leopardstown winner Never Ending Story in the French 1,000 Guineas (3.30).

Boogie Woogie tackles the Group One St Mark’s Basilica Coolmore Prix Saint-Alary (4.10) for the same pair while O’Brien’s son Joseph sends over Brostaigh for the Group Three Prix de Saint-Georges (12.55) with Dylan Browne McMonagle in the plate.

There is also Irish interest in the Group Two Oleander-Rennen (12.35) at Hoppegarten tomorrow where Luke Comer saddles Bradesco and John Alexander in a race he sponsors.